Rules to protect online buyers unveiled

PRE-TICKED boxes and other means of tricking consumers into spending more when buying online are to be banned under stricter protection for consumers.

A third of Europe’s consumers shop online, but the number could be much higher with clearer information and greater customer guarantees, according to the European Commission.

The proposed rules would also cut red tape for those selling online and update the law to cover new sales methods, such as online eBay auctions.

About 18% of Irish consumers bought online last year, spending an average of €900 each — above the EU average — while 68% of Irish retailers sell online.

About 150 million or a third of the EU population spent €24 billion shopping over the internet, but just 30 million of them bought from sites outside their own country.

EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva says it has enormous potential and believes it would be used much more if people had more confidence in it.

“We need an EU-wide safety net of rights so consumers have the security they need to shop around with peace of mind,” she said.

For the first time there would be the same standards set in all 27 European Union countries under the Consumer Rights Directive.

It says all information about the product and the price must be provided, together with who is selling it. And you must be told about any deposits or credit card blocking in advance.

The product must be delivered within 30 days of purchase and the consumer is entitled to a refund seven days later if it is not delivered.

There will be a 14-day cooling off period during which the consumer can change their mind with a standard easy to use withdrawal form.

There will be one standard remedy for all consumers who have bought a faulty product, including repair or replacement in the first place, followed by a reduction of the price or their money back.

However the EU-wide consumer rights’ organisation, BEUC, says consumers must be able to choose which of these they want.

The draft will now go to the European Parliament and to the member states, who can make changes to it and must approve it before it can become law.